Brushing and beating device for vacuum cleaners



P 1965 w. LAMKEN ETAL 3,204,281

BRUSHING AND HEATING DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed April 4, 1962 Walter Loumken Filbert Kosdzig H n1: on K asp our Jnrenzars United States Patent 5 Claims. (in. 15-364) The present invention relates generally to the vacuum cleaner art, and, more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner device which both brushes and beats the object which is to be cleaned.

Many types of vacuum cleaners are known in which a roller having rows of brushes and/or beaters formed of beating ridges is used, and which are driven by means of a motor mounted on the vacuum cleaner. One type is the upright vacuum cleaner which may be pushed over a carpet for cleaning the same. Such vacuum cleaners have built in brushing and beating rollers.

In such cases, the roller is rigidly mounted in the housing or in a rigid frame, neglecting for the moment elastic or flexible intermediate layers, such as are used for isolating mechanical vibrations. In this type of vacuum cleaner, the beating effect is provided solely by means of the rotating beating ridges or heaters. In the operation of these devices, it is infrequent that the carpet is lifted by the airstream or by the vacuum which is produced by the vacuum cleaner and, therefore, the carpet is beaten all the more in order to provide proper cleaning. Furthermore, the amount of beating which takes place is not variable and thus cannot be changed. In the event the carpet is lifted, the airstream mentioned above is considerably disturbed and the suction power thereof is diminished.

In addition to the above-described devices, brushing and beating suction nozzles are known where, for example, beating is simulated by the use of rubber rings which vibrate in the airstream. However, the beating effect provided by this means is relatively ineifective, because it is uncertain and the magnitude of beating is small.

With these defects of the prior art in mind, it is a main object of this invention to provide a brushing and beating device for vacuum cleaners which is simple and considerably more eflicient than those previously known in this art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described which reduces wear and tear on the carpet while providing better cleaning.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a brushing and beating roller, which is oscillated to aid in the cleaning thereof.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein the oscillation is adjustable.

These objects and others ancillary thereto are accomplished according to preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein the brushing and beating roller is mounted so that it may oscillate, and the amplitude of the oscillations, the intensity of the beating, and the zone of oscillation with respect to the object being cleaned, may be adjusted. The oscillations may be produced by using an unbalanced rotating roller. The drive for the roller is provided by the use of a belt drive, such as an elastic or flexible cord. The oscillations themselves, that is, the amplitude thereof, may be limited by stop members. Adjusting means may be arranged so that the distance between the roller in its rest position and the carpet, or

3,204,281 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 other object being cleaned, may be adjusted for providing a predetermined magnitude to the beating action.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention wherein oscillations are excited by an unbalanced roller, and wherein portions are omitted for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the details of the mounting of the roller of the device of FIG- URE 1 and is taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

A simple and trouble-free mounting is one feature of the invention which may be achieved by the use of oscillating or rocking levers having a roller mounted on one end thereof. For example, the shaft of the roller may be mounted in these levers. The other ends of the levers are pivotally mounted in bearing blocks which have bearing slots for accommodating the ends of the rocking levers which are bent at right angles at these ends. These ends of the rocking levers are mounted between rubber members and such a bearing arrangement has the advantage of being biased to a rest position, providing a damping action, and being of simple construction without having any slack. The motor has a motor driving shaft and is mounted upon the device. The pivot point of the rocking levers is coaxial with this motor shaft and thus the oscillations which are provided do not influence the belt drive between the roller and the motor shaft. The amplitude of the oscillations is limited and/or adjusted by means of stops which are of an elastic and/ or flexible material and may be constructed of rubber.

With more particular reference to the drawings, FIG- URES 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the device wherein oscillation is provided by means of an unbalanced roller. The base plate 1 of the device is provided with a suction opening 2 and the brushing and beating roller 3 is mounted above this opening. This base plate 1 is provided with a trough 4 to provide a mounting for motor 5. Also, bearing blocks 6, having bearing slots 7 formed therein, are mounted on this base plate, and provide a pivotal mounting for the rocking or swinging levers 8. Internally threaded adjustment bases 9 are provided in which bolts 10 are threadedly adjustable. The rocking levers 8 are provided with a pair of stops 11, and the adjustment of screws 10 in members 9 provides adjustment of the stops.

A casing 1 generally surrounds the structure in order to form a closed chamber 2' in which suction pressure may be created by means of a suction connection 19 which draws air through chamber 2' by means of the suction opening 2, to thus provide the suction which is required for a vacuum device of this type.

The ends 12 of rocking levers 8 are bent at right angles and are mounted in the slots 7 between rubber members (not shown). They are clamped therein by means of adjusting brackets 13 which are connected to bearing blocks 6 by means of screws 13' threadedly mounted therein. I

These adjusting brackets 13 are bent into a general U- shape at their free ends, i.e., on the ends opposite screw 13'. Rubber stops or stop members 11 are provided on both legs of the U which is so created; face each other; and, if desired, may be made adjustable. The rocking levers 8 are provided with horizontally disposed guide bars 18 which are fixed to the rocking levers and extend between the stops 11 so as to thus limit the amount of rocking movement of levers 8. Thus, the oscillation amplitude of the levers 8 is limited by the spacing between the stops. Adjustment of this amplitude range of movement with respect to a carpet, or other object to be cleaned, is provided by adjusting screws 10 which are threadedly mounted in the members 9, as mentioned above, andpass through a suitable hole in adjusting brackets 13. Coil springs 14 encircle the bolts 10 and bias the brackets 13 upwardly, so that these brackets are constantly being urged. against the heads of the screws 10, and by merely threadedly adjusting these screws, the position of the stops may be adjusted as desired.

An unbalanced brushing and beating roller 3 is mounted in the free ends of the rocking levers 8 by means of the ends 15 of the roller shaft, and this mounting is secured by means of tension springs 16. Due to this arrangement, the brushing and beating roller 3 may be easily replaced. The rotating bearings proper of the roller may be mounted within the roller whereby the roller is pivotally mounted with respect to shaft ends 15. The roller is driven by means of the cord transmission 17 which is disposed about the roller and also about a motor'pulley which is mounted on a motor shaft 4', generally coincident with the pivot point of the rocking levers 8.

As was mentioned above, the entire device, including the drive means, is covered against dirt and dust by means of a casing or housing 1' which also defines the vacuum chamber 2 and in which a suction nozzle 19 is provided so that the proper suction force at outlet 2 may be achieved.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptiblelto various modifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaner device of the type having a frame defining a suction inlet, said device comprising, in combination:

(a) oscillatory roller means including a cleaning roller;

and

(b) means for mounting said roller adjacent said inlet for rotational and oscillational movement with respect to said frame and including oscillating lever 4 means mounted at one respective end to the frame for permitting oscillation of the roller, bearing blocks mounted on said frame, mounting slots provided in said blocks, the one respective ends of said oscillating lever means being bent at angles to the length thereof and being disposed in said slots, and rubber disposed in said slots and resiliently holding said bent ends in place.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes adjusting brackets fastened to said blocks and retaining said oscillating lever means in said slots, the free ends of said brackets being bent into a general U-shape, and rubber stop members positioned within the legs of the U and opposing each other and positioned to provide for limitation of movement of the oscillating lever means.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, where in the positions of said rubber stop members are adjustable.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein the adjustment is provided by means of screws threadedly provided in the frame, and helical springs disposed between the frame and the adjusting brackets and urging said brackets against the heads of said screws.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said oscillating lever means include projecting side bars which are positioned between said rubber stop members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,007,888 11/11 Parker 15-364 2,092,581 9/37 Kitto 15-364 2,197,641 4/40 Helm-Hansen. 2,227,971 1/ 41 Helm-Hansen 15-392 2,649,609 8/53 Turner 15-372 2,672,643 3/54 Langille 15372 FOREIGN PATENTS 373,935 6/32 Great Britain.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. C AR ES W L M am n r, 

1. A VACUUM CLEANER DEVICE OF THE TUPE HAVING A FRAME DEFINING A SUCTION INLET, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) OSCILLATORY ROLLER MEANS INCLUDING A CLEANING ROLLER; AND (B) MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID ROLLER ADJACENT SAID INLET FOR ROTATIONAL AND OSCILLATIONAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME AND INCLUDING OSCILLATING LEVER MEANS MOUNTED AT ONE RESPECTIVE END TO THE FRAME FOR PERMITTING OSCILLATION OF THE ROLLER, BEARING BLOCKS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, MOUNTING SLOTS PROVIDED IN SAID BLOCKS, THE ONE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF SAID OSCILLATING LEVER MEANS BEING BENT AT ANGLES TO THE LENGTH THEREOF AND BEING DISPOSED IN SAID SLOTS, AND RUBBER DISPOSED IN SAID SLOTS AND RESILIENTLY HOLDING SAID BENT ENDS IN PLACE. 